Alicia Sawyer

Medical student

What is your hometown?

Chandler, Arizona

How or when did you become interested in science and medicine?

My grandmother was a nurse and interpreter. It was her influence that set me on the path to pursing medicine from a very early age. My desire to become a physician grew from that point based on my volunteer experiences in both the ED in Arizona and at the Maricopa Office of the Medical Examiner. Additionally, medicine is a dynamic field and offers a unique chance to affect change in people’s lives on a very personal level while still being intellectually challenging, which are factors that have drawn me to this field.

How or why did you choose the Carver College of Medicine?

The CCOM has an excellent academic reputation but moreover, when I came for my admissions interview, I was able to interact with truly genuine individuals who appeared to take an active interest in the students and their futures. The financial aid for out of state students is outstanding and the college offers several opportunities to become involved in global programs as well as wilderness medicine, both of which I am interested in.

Is there a teacher, mentor or Carver College of Medicine faculty member who has helped shape your education?

I can easily say that Dr. Hans House has been a huge influence on me as a student. He takes time out of his schedule to work with all of his mentees on an individual basis, assists in career planning, and offers up sincere encouragement with whatever projects we undertake. As a physician, he has a general ease with patients and is not only witty but compassionate, all of which are characteristics that his students admire and hope to someday attain.

What opportunities or advantages does being a medical student at Iowa provide? What about challenges?

Global medicine is something I am very interested in and I have found opportunities at Iowa that I may not have found elsewhere. I was able to travel to the Himalayas with a fellow medical student and subsequently present my research at the Global Health Education Conference with students who had traveled to other parts of the world. Being surrounded by such interesting and diverse fellow students has not only helped me to grow personally but has allowed me to learn more about issues affecting many different global communities. I have found the cooperative learning environment at Iowa to be a definite advantage and the remarkable people I have had a chance to become friends with have made the experience all the better.

What are your professional goals and interests?

In the short term, I would like to return to the Himalayas during my fourth year as a medical student and work to develop education programs for communities along the Indo-Tibetan boarder where there is a substantial lack of access to medical care. After surviving medical school and residency, I hope to work as an emergency physician, spending a portion of my time on a volunteer basis serving in global communities.

What are some of your outside interests?

Having lived in the desert all my life I am used to being outdoors, so I love anything that takes me into unknown places and situations such as backcountry backpacking, kayaking, and spelunking. I try to travel as much as possible and also enjoy catching a great independent film or concert with friends.

What community service/outreach projects do you participate in? What have your experiences been?

I have been involved in the Writing Program, Mobile Clinic, American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), and EMIG as a medical student. I am also part of the Service Distinction Tract. Being involved in these organizations offers me a chance to continue to serve the community during my medical education. Additionally, the Writing and Humanities Programs are a great chance for students to find a creative outlet to maintain their sanity and to cultivate parts of the brain that may grow dusty with such relentlessly dense science course work.

What philosophy guides you in your work?

I view medicine as a service oriented profession which has helped me remain focused on my overall goal throughout my first two years of medical school: to learn what I can in order to provide the best care for my future patients. I find keeping the focus of my work and studies on what good I will be able to do for others makes getting through rough semesters a little easier.

If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?

Given the progress that we as a society have made over the past several decades, I find it unacceptable that there are still whole groups of people that do not have equal rights and are concerned about the type of medical care they will receive due to stigmas regarding their lifestyle choices. I would like to see these individuals continue to gain ground in attaining equality and to see health care professionals continue to promote and practice tolerance such that individuals trust that they will receive excellent medical care regardless of their sexuality.

What piece of advice do you have for students interested in applying to medical school?

I was a non-traditional medical student, so I would emphatically say that there is no specific mold of what a medical school applicant should look like. Thus, pursue activities that fuel your passion for medicine and make you truly unique so that you not only stand out from the crowd but also gain life experiences which will ultimately help you to be a better physician.

What is the future of medicine?

With an ever expanding US population and substantial number of individuals who do not have health insurance the issue of providing medical care to the uninsured will continue to present a problem for health care professionals and is one that the medical field will need to address in the very near future. Whether universal health care is the solution remains to be seen, but regardless, it is an issue that current physicians and students should work to address so the future of medicine holds that the majority of people will be able to receive the health care they need.